JCC Administrator, Attorney Receive Compensation Increases

James City County Administrator Robert Middaugh and County Attorney Leo Rogers received compensation increases from the county’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

In his performance review during a closed session in July, Middaugh asked for a bump in his deferred compensation from 5.5 percent to 8.5 percent –an increase from $9,592 to $14,824—and a change to his severance agreement to increase his severance pay from a three-month lump sum payout to six one-month payouts.

With the change, Middaugh would be remain on the county’s payroll for six months and would continue to receive benefits if he was released from his duties without cause. After six months, the six one-month lump payouts kick in. The entire 12 months of severance only applies if Middaugh doesn’t find a new job within that time; he would only receive severance pay until securing employment.

The severance package only kicks in if Middaugh is fired for a reason other than the for-cause reasons listed in his contract, Supervisor John McGlennon (Roberts) said at the meeting.

“My feeling is that if we have a good relationship, severance is never going to be an issue,” McGlennon said.

The board voted 3-2 with Supervisors Mary Jones (Berkeley) and Jim Kennedy (Stonehouse) opposed to the increase for Middaugh.

Jones has not been supportive of any county employee raises citing uncertainty in the economy. She said she does not want to increase county employee pay — funded through tax dollars —“out of respect for the citizens that are paying the salaries and are struggling.”

Kennedy said he was not supportive of the severance package because other municipalities’ employees in similar positions don’t receive severance packages. Kennedy said City of Williamsburg Manager Jack Tuttle does not have a severance package.

McGlennon pointed out the severance package was part of Middaugh’s original contract, which Kennedy and McGlennon jointly drafted.

Rogers received a 3 percent raise and 1.5 percent increase in his deferred compensation, following a promise made in 2008 for 1 percent and an additional 0.5 percent for performance. He will be evaluated annually for an additional 0.5 percent increase in his deferred compensation.

The raise and deferred compensation increase were given on a 4-1 vote with Jones opposed for the same reasons she opposed Middaugh’s deferred compensation and severance package increases.

Additionally, the board voted 3-2 with Jones and Kennedy opposed to include Rogers in the county employee compensation study. The compensation study was approved in November last year and compares county employees’ pay with other municipalities.